2000-12-03 Steve Forbes w rsc 8 John Brown, Miccosukee Gaming Casino, Miami, Florida, USA - IBF. Referee: Jorge Alonso. Contesting the title left vacant on Diego Corrales’ decision to challenge for the WBC belt it was the better boxing of Forbes (130) that ultimately won the day, the tough Brown (130) being pulled out by the referee at 2.22 of the eighth after suffering a perforated eardrum. There was never much between them as the stocky Brown, much the smaller of the pair, continually crowded the classier Forbes. At times there was almost no room to breathe. In the fifth and sixth rounds Forbes began to find the space for his punches, landing good jabs and hard rights though lacking the firepower to keep Brown at bay for long. Having opened up in the eighth as the pace died down Forbes was now getting to Brown far more readily, and although the latter was not apparently hurt it was the damaged ear that brought his challenge to an end.